After reading the book that outlines the loss of the U.S.S. Edsall D.D.219 . I think I want to build a Four Piper . Now , let’s see what’s available .There’s the old REVELL offering of the " Cambelltown " and all her iterations .There is some 1/700 offerings and some 1/350 ships , too ! Oh ! the confusion . Which size is most easily Built ?
Then there’s the Card model genre too . Oh , Decisions , Decisions ! ! ! I have one done is 1/350 , I don’t remember which ship , but She’s one of the ones I made the mistake of painting various shades of Flat Sea Blue . Shoot , it disappeared !
No , Not really . It just looked so small in that color and the detail in it including the Helm and Binnacle on the open sided bridge , could hardly be seen even with a magnifier ! Never again ! Sea Blue is reserved for larger scale ships !
Fact is , I will build more of these little Greyhounds of the sea . There were many mods made to some and that deserves mention and presence in my little fleet . They look so Businesslike and at the same time so Sleek . That always caught my attention .
Well off to the stash to see which ones I still have unbuilt ! T.B.
Mirage of Poland has several different iterations of these ships in 1/400 that are quite good. They include USS Ward, USS Noa, HMS St. Albans, HMS Campbelltown, and the former USS Stewart in Japanese configuration after her capture. Each represents different versions, Campbelltown, for example, being modelled in her correct appearance during the raid on St. Nazaire. I believe that there are several others in this collection but am not 100% sure.
I’ve built a clutch of the Mirage kits and really love them. They’re a bit fiddly—with lots of tiny pieces to clean up—but they’re really nicely detailed, including properly cambered decks!
The old Revell war-horse is still a sentimental favorite. Nice big easy-to-work-with 1/240 scale, fair detail for its vintage. With a little love…like replacing or up-detailing guns…it can be a real dazzler.
Nice p-e sets available for both of the above. And Al Ross’s Anatomy of the Ship entry on the Campbeltown is a must-have resource.
I like the Revell kit as well. Granted, there are problems, such as the guns, and the deck is wood planked (unlike the real ship). I also have the St. Albans by Airfix which is quite nice. These ships are fun to build!
I like the model . But In looking at it , it seems the stern quarters are , or look to be wider than they should be . Or are the pictures decieving me . T.B.
Hope you find a good scale to work with. I’ve been wanting to build one of these 4-pipers ever since I read “South to Java” by William Mack. He participated in the early WW2 naval battles and his novel does a great job bringing to life the invasion of the Phillipines and the Battle of Java Sea. Would make a great companion read while building the kit. [:)]
I found one other Mirage kit in my stash . . . HMS Montgomery. In short, there are quite a few kits of these ships available. Al, the Bluejacket kit is very impressive!
